Goodliz

Our car is on the way out so we need to get another used car. I'm wandering where people go. We are not flashy and we are not into paying monthly for things (apart from mortgage of course) which means we would have to get something a bit older as we would be paying for it all in one go. Our current one was about 7 years old when we got it and it has lasted us about 6.5 years. As we don't have a pram anymore we would go for something smaller such as a fiesta, astra or focus. Can anyone recommend any garages please that are honest etc and are not full of cars for about 10 grand :-) Thanks, Liz

Brilliant. What an eye opener.

Yes, I hate it too. Totally agree it is about how creative the parents are or how much they are prepared to spend on an outfit. I've been trying really hard to convince them to go as Augustus Gloop - cushion stuffed in t-shirt and choc smeared round mouth. Both are refusing. Now I'm working on 'just bring a book in' Pickle, I think there may be another Harry Potter in Class 3 too - that seems to be youngest's current choice!

One of my sister's did this over 20 years ago when she had a very young son. Her and the friend she shared with are still very, very good friends now. Such a good idea. I hope you get it sorted out.

Hello, I really like Crystal Palace. I don't live there but for years I've used the area on my running routes! It has a very nice feel. I think it would be a great place to live. The high street is lovely, great park, sports centre and transport on the overground is meant to be good.

Polmoche, thanks for the tip about the Usborne classic books. I've been after something like this for ages. Just ordered Great Expectations, Oliver Twist and David Copperfield.

I get this on a regular basis too. Not just when pregnant either - just most of the time and it drives me (and my husband) mad. like others have said keeping cool seems to help. I hope your's is just confined to pregnancy and goes away soon.

Ryedalema, I think it was 9-1 and 2-5

Went to Waterfront in Woolwoch today and i would recommend it highly. Slides, waves, pools of different depths plus a normal 25m pool. Nice and clean. Easy to get to. Need to pay for parking but the machine was broken so did not need to pay for that :-) Really worth the trip. My sons age 9 and 6 loved it. Younger children would love it too.

A long time ago I worked for an organisation called Community Service Volunteers http://www.csv.org.uk/volunteering They are like a VSO in the uk. In some cases they provided volunteers who would live in with people for 12 months. I suppose a bit like an au pair. The volunteer receives a small allowance for expenses etc. As I say this was a long time ago - about 15 years so their scope of provision is bound to have changed. It could be worth checking out what they now provide. They are a well established organisation and I know all their volunteers are vetted etc.

Kelly is excellent. I'd recoemmend getting a spray tan.

Pickle, from my experience it would go down well. At my 9 year old son's party we did pin the tail on the donkey and it was great. Pass the parcel is good too and the age your son is at means you don't have to pack a prize in each layer. They can take on not winning now I think. I've never been at a party where the children have not wanted to get involved - they seem to just go with the flow. It will be manic for you but fun for your son and his friends!

Apologies for the short notice. Back to normal next week. Thanks, Liz

Ditto what you have said. I have 2 boys aged 6 and 9. Things that tend to help - Making sure they are fed asap after returning home from school. Seems that hunger and anger go hand in hand. That is about it! I am sorry I don't have anything of any worth to offer. Somedays I can ignore it and others it winds me up a treat. I've tried reasoning with them saying things like: "Imagine if Daddy and I argued like this infront of you. Do you think that would be nice?" Makes no difference. "There is no point fighting as the only person you are upsetting is me." Makes no difference. I am enjoying a week of no arguing is the eldest is on a school trip! I think this is it really. As you say, sometimes they play really nicely together and others it is awful. Hey ho!

I have 2 boys there too and they are very happy. They are in years 5 and 2. I would recommend Goodrich and there is plenty of opportunity to be involved as a parent too.

A record player is what I really, really want.

Ha ha - thought it was a joke then watched the New York Times interview with her and it's not a joke. She looks very happy whilst prancing. Please don't forget Powerpramming by the way! www.powerpramming.co.uk :-)

I would like to recommend Robert and his team at Aqua Build. They are a local company who specialise in fitting kitchens and bathrooms. They fitted our kitchen in Jan 13 and all is still looking good and working well. The job was not straightforward due to other work happening in the house but they were courteous and professional throughout. They were also helpful with our requirements and offered advice and help when needed. Before asking them to do our work I contacted other people from the forum who had used them in the past and all the responses were positive. I also went to see some of the previous work they had carried out. Over the last couple of months a small problem arose with our worktop - not the fault of Aqua but they came and replaced it for us today - no problem. Over the last 12 months we have had loads of work done on our house so I think I'm now qualified to say these are good, honest, hard working and professional guys who do a super job for a very fair price. We are very pleased with the results. This is their website http://www.aqua-build.co.uk/

Took my son (9) to Hunter and Paine on Lordship Lane a couple of weeks ago as he was having trouble seeing the whiteboard in class. The opticican was so lovely with him. Would defo recommend a visit. Funnily enough my son loves wearing glasses. Not sure if it just him or times ahve changed as I hated wearing glasses as a child.

Quick message incase anyone on here was planning to go. Kellie is sick so cannot take the class. Thanks, liz

Thanks for the nudge. I aim to have some info by the end of this week. I've started a new job which means I've been rather consumed by that these last few weeks. Anyone who has been to my classes will know they are not expensive so I hope I will be able to provide something appealing. Thanks, Liz

Oh it was great but I agree about the clown bit with his gestures. My other half got picked at the 12 o clock show yesterday to go down and participate in that act. I like Norman's ending comment each year: 'You're never too young, or too old, or too cool to enjoy Zippo's Circus'. I think he should also add 'or too posh' ;-) Mrs TP did you know that Norman was on This Is Your Life in the 1990s? There is a link to it from his Wikipedia page. Yes, I do need to get out much more.

Thanks Fushia. Someone gave me some vouchers today which I have used.

Yippee, Zippos is in town but I have not seen any of the flyers for discount tickets around the area. I'm wandering what the cheapest way to get tickets is. Looking at the website children are ?11 and adults ?14 if going for the front view so for 2 adults and 2 children that is quite alot plus the online booking fee. So I'm wandering if anyone has seen the flyers they usually have around and what the prices advertised on those are please. If anyone can let me know that would be great. Thanks, liz

We got one from Marks and spencer a few years ago. Very good value. The delivery men assembled it. We've taken it down and put back up a few times due to moving bedrooms etc. The beds are now split and they work very well.